Mardi Gras has grown to be our biggest holiday of the year. It's our Christmas; it's better than. There's no stress of wishlists or presents or wrapping or naughty kids. It's a pure joy holiday where we ask, How can we transform our humble space into something more lovely than the year before? The best ornaments we find always come from the Dollar Store or the grocery discount bin. We cook all of our favorites on Fat Tuesday, skip school, stream the parades, and revel in a timeless bubble of chaos and enchantment. Then it ends, we take down all of our decorations, and count down until it happens again.

Since we're here catching up on last week's Pygmalion and Sparta Krewes Mardi Gras parades from New Orleans, here's our menu for Fat Tuesday. No alligator this year; we're sticking to our oldest favorites:

Mardi Gras Menu 2017

Hors d'Oeuvres:

Fried oysters Mussels in garlic and white wine Chilled spicy shrimp boil

Entrees: Shrimp Gumbo Crawfish Étouffée Traditional-style King Cake

Drinks:

Raspberry Diamond Fizzes French 75s Virgin Raspberry Fizzes Sparkling Cider